President Maithripala Sirisena, after attending the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi, met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Indian Prime Minister said that the participation of the Sri Lankan President in the ISA Summit was a privilege and requested the President to extend his assistance in taking the message of the ISA Summit to the world.

The Prime Minister recalled that during the past few years, relations between the two countries were further strengthened and pointed out that in the future it was important to fortify these bilateral ties between the two countries economically as well.

The Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and ambassadors from both countries participated in the meeting.

Later the President also met with United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Erik Solheim.

During this meeting, issues concerning environmental conservation, weather and climate change and marine pollution were discussed and the President was apprised of the specially designed program to protect the environment of Sri Lanka.

President Sirisena revealed the programs implemented to increase the forest density from the current 28% to 32% and further stated that the Air Force had launched a special monitoring program for the protection of forests, and once in two weeks the Air Force submitted a report in this regard to him.

The President went on to speak about the steps that have been taken to control the use of plastic in Sri Lanka in a landscape where marine pollution has grown to be a major problem.

Sirisena outlined the environmental issues that arise as a result of excavating soil for construction activities and requested Solheim to introduce technological alternatives and proposals in this regard to Sri Lanka.

During the meeting, relations between Norway and Sri Lanka were also discussed.

Solheim conveyed his appreciation over the initiatives taken by Sri Lanka for the protection of the environment.